19 Best Things to Do in Old Town San Diego

Explore California’s Birthplace on the Old Town: Tequila, Tacos & Tombstones Walking Tour, where you’ll be treated to amazing authentic Mexican meals while also learning about the storied history of Old Town. Visit famous locations around the neighborhood and learn about restoration projects that have helped to preserve some of San Diego’s oldest buildings.

This tour is an excellent way to experience all of what Old Town has to offer, and earns a spot on our list of the Best Things to Do in San Diego’s Premier Neighborhoods for its unique way of combining history and culture through the shared pastimes of food and drink. It also is one of the 10 Best Food & Beer Tours in San Diego!

If you’re looking for an especially flexible way to tour through all of San Diego, including many points of interest in Old Town, consider taking the Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour.

Ride the trolley and listen to tales of the city and insider secrets in the Gaslamp Quarter, Downtown San Diego, Balboa Park, and more, or just use the trolley as a convenient way to get around town. Best of all, if something catches your interest, you’re free to hop off the trolley at any time.

With a Go City San Diego pass in hand, you can save when you visit the attractions highlighted on the tour. The pass includes an unlimited ride 2-day trolley pass, an incredible way to get an overview of the city. The trolley tour is one of the Best Things to Do in San Diego, regardless of neighborhood, and it’s sure to appeal to the whole family.

If you’re planning to vacation in San Diego during the fall, or if you live nearby and you’re looking for a fun, family-friendly way to celebrate the holidays, check out Old Town’s Día de los Muertos celebration. The main events take place in Old Town at Fiesta de Reyes, which is part of the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park. This festival is an annual event commemorating the Day of the Dead that takes place each year on November 1st and 2nd.

Attractions include a wide variety of vendors, incredible authentic Mexican food, live music and other entertainment, a photo booth, face painting, and a Day of the Dead artwork exhibition. This is by far one of the Best Things to Do in San Diego’s Most Popular Neighborhoods.

If you’re visiting at the right time, it’s a can’t-miss event, especially for families with kids!

Old Town is an exceptional place to learn about history, and there are few better attractions for doing so than on a Self-Guided Tour of the Whaley House Museum, one of the oldest still-existing buildings in San Diego.

The Whaley House is named after its original owner and designer Thomas Whaley, who had the house constructed back in 1857. Prior to becoming a museum a little over 60 years ago, the house was also used as a residential property, a granary, a courthouse, a theater, and a general store.

Today, the Whaley House Museum entertains thousands of visitors each year, providing guests with a unique way to learn about the history of the ground they’re standing on. Check out the mid-19th century architecture which has been carefully preserved for over 150 years, discover what life was like for early residents of New Town, and tour the house at night to learn about its history of ghost sightings.

Don’t forget to grab an All-inclusive Go City San Diego pass for discount admission before you visit!

Discover Old Town’s hidden secrets while also enjoying delicious local food and drinks on the Old Town Tales, Tacos, and Tequila Walking Tour.

Start by exploring the neighborhood and learning about historic sites and other points of interest including shops, churches, and original adobe houses. As you work up an appetite on the tour, you’ll get to chow down on some tasty tacos made with authentic handmade tortillas.

Finally, cool off at a local tequileria, where you can sample one of many different kinds of tequilas, or enjoy a mixed drink or other alcoholic beverage of your choice. This tour is a great way to experience San Diego culture first-hand, and it’s also a fun-filled way to learn about the area’s history.

The tour departs from 3963 Conde St, San Diego, CA 92110, which is located right in front of the Adobe Chapel.

In the 1700s, early European settlers established missions along the West Coast of California around which growth and development flourished. San Diego’s own mission, the Mission San Diego de Alcala, was the first of its kind. The site now houses the Junípero Serra Museum in Presidio Park, which offers guests the opportunity to observe the Presidio’s Spanish Revival architecture, authentically reconstructed over the years. Visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about what life was like during the time of the missions.

An ideal itinerary stop for history buffs, the Junípero Serra Museum also showcases the mission’s past as a military base during conflicts with the native Kumeyaay Indian population. Check out the exhibit room, featuring a Concord stagecoach, or simply take in the beautiful scenic view from the tower of the Presidio.

The museum is open Friday-Sunday from 10 am-4 pm.

The most history-rich areas of the world also frequently tend to be hotspots for paranormal activity, and this maxim holds true for Old Town San Diego. Learn about sightings of specters and scary tales from the past on a Old Town Ghost-Themed Walking Tour, which is a delightfully spooky ghost tour that’s suitable for all ages.

Notable locales on the tour include the famously haunted Whaley House Museum and local graveyards. An informative live guide will lead you to each location and share interesting trivia and stories, helping to set the perfect mood for tales of ghosts and poltergeists.

Tours are about 1.5 hours long and depart from the corner of Juan and Harney St. near the Heritage Park sign at the general address of 4100 Heritage Park Row, San Diego, CA 92110.

When you rent a Talking GoCar for a 2-Hour Tour, not only do you get the ability to tour the neighborhoods of Old Town and the Downtown San Diego area at your own pace, but you also get to do so in style! Talking GoCars are equipped with GPS navigation so you’ll have no trouble finding your way around the city. Each stop on the tour is paired with a pre-recorded narration that provides interesting information and trivia on these points of interest.

Pick up a GoCar from 3918 Mason St, San Diego, CA 92110 and travel to dozens of different historic, cultural, and fun-filled sites around San Diego for the duration of the 2-hour rental.

The Bazaar del Mundo is one of the most popular shopping destinations in Old Town, especially if you prefer unique items that reflect the local culture over big malls and chain stores. At the Bazaar del Mundo, you’ll find commemorative items that draw their influence from San Diego’s vibrant international population, with plenty of opportunities to buy typical Mexican souvenirs, all without having to leave the country.

Be sure to also pop over to the Fiesta de Reyes to continue your shopping spree, where you’ll find a number of shops selling locally handmade goods. Like the Bazaar del Mundo, many of these boutiques and bodegas offer traditional Mexican products ranging from clothing and gifts to tasty bars and restaurants serving up authentic cuisine. You can easily spend an afternoon shopping just a few steps from Old Town’s central square collecting unique souvenirs you can only get in San Diego!

Looking for a chilling way to experience Old Town after dark? Look no further than the Ghosts & Gravestones Trolley Tour, where you can travel the neighborhood in a themed trolley while visiting various haunted locations. Listen to tales of past ghost encounters recounted by your costumed guides while also learning about some of the town’s oldest neighborhoods and buildings.

Visit a few graveyards under the cover of darkness, hear the stories of the less savory characters that may still haunt San Diego’s streets, and keep your eyes peeled for potential ghost sightings!

The 1.5 hour long tour covers topics such as unusual deaths and unsolved mysteries, thus making it not recommended for small children. It is a good idea to wear comfortable shoes and know that this San Diego tour is one that’s not wheelchair accessible. Meet at the boarding location in front of the Old Town Market at 4010 Twiggs St, San Diego, CA 92110, USA.

History comes alive in the San Diego State Historic Park, which includes examples of original Spanish Colonial architecture that dates all the way back to the early 1800s. Two of the three adobe buildings in San Diego can be found in the park. One such example is the adobe home built in 1827 known today as the historic Cosmopolitan Hotel and Restaurant. The boutique hotel offers visitors the chance to stay a night in one of their 10 unique rooms.

Many of the historical buildings in the area have been turned into educational museums, such as La Casa de Estudillo Museum. Visit the Robinson Rose Visitor Center to learn about educational tours, or simply enjoy the beautiful San Diego weather as you walk around the grassy park.

The hours of the park’s visitor center and museums vary on a seasonal basis. From May to September, operating hours are from 10 am-5 pm, while from October to April they close at 4:30 pm.

Stop and smell the roses on the Old Town, Downtown and Balboa Park GoCar Tour, on which you’ll get to visit many of the most beautiful locations across Old Town and the rest of San Diego. Explore stunning vistas with highlights in Balboa Park, the Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy, and Downtown San Diego located next to San Diego Bay.

Be sure to bring a camera to snap a few photos in front of these incredible backdrops. This tour is also a great way to do some birdwatching and wildlife photography, as these habitats are home to pelicans, sea lions, seals, and more. As you take in the view, you’ll also get to learn about the history of these amazing locations in a small group setting.

Old Town is brimming with historic locales, with some buildings being over 250 years old! These historic houses are each well worth a visit, as they have gone through many renovations over the years to preserve their authenticity.

Buildings like the Casa de Estudio, Casa Machado Silvas, Casa Machado y Stewart and the Cosmopolitan Hotel showcase what homes were like during the early colonial period. Other notable buildings have undergone reconstruction and been turned into museums where you can learn about the lives of those who lived and worked in them. These include the McCoy House Museum, the Colorado House Wells Fargo Museum, and the First Courthouse Museum.

In 1846, the Mexican-American War was raging in the west. Learn about the historic march of the Mormon Battalion, a platoon of 500 men, at the Mormon Battalion Historic Site located at 2510 Juan St. San Diego, CA 92110.

The museum includes memorabilia from the Mexican-American War, as well as educational exhibits. Watch interactive videos which showcase demonstrations of the making of bricks used to build houses in the 1800s, as well as the creation of gold objects. These videos also include information about some of the museum’s many historic artifacts.

Museum hours are Monday, Wednesday – Saturday: 10 am– 7 pm; Tuesday: 5 pm– 7 pm; Sunday: 1 pm– 7 pm.

Old Town is home to many churches, but the Church of the Immaculate Conception at 2540 San Diego Ave San Diego, CA 92110 has the greatest claim to fame of them all.

It was here that Saint Junípero Serra, founder of San Diego’s first mission, performed the First Holy Mass in California back in 1769. While the old adobe church that once marked this spot wasn’t constructed until 1851, and its current building wasn’t open until 1917, the Church of the Immaculate Conception still continues a tradition that dates all the way back to San Diego’s earliest days.

Visitors are welcome to admire the church’s architecture at any time. If you want to sit in on a mass, the mass times are Monday-Saturday at 8:00 am, with an additional evening mass on Saturdays at 5:15 pm. Mass is also held on Sundays at 8:30 am, 10:00 am, and 11:30 am.

Established in 1849, El Campo Santo Cemetery is the oldest cemetery in all of California, and the resting place for nearly 500 people. While today it is respected as an important historic site, this wasn’t always true; the cemetery used to be larger, but after it was largely abandoned and the chapel was damaged in a fire, a streetcar line was built directly through the graveyard. This later became the main street in Old Town, San Diego Ave.

As a result of this construction, some of the bodies that were previously interred in El Campo Santo Cemetery are now located under the street and sidewalks. If you look around the area, you can find medallions in the road showing where people were buried.

The beautiful Presidio Park is one of Old Town’s standout locations, whether you’re interested in the park’s history as part of the missions of early colonists, or you simply want to enjoy San Diego’s perfect weather. If you’re looking for a free (or almost free) way to enjoy Old town San Diego, stretch out in the grass on a blanket and treat yourself to a picnic in the park, which is equipped with convenient restrooms and parking.

Pick up lunch from one of Old Town’s many incredible restaurants, or consider visiting a local farmer’s market and grabbing some fresh ingredients to make tasty salads and sandwiches to enjoy in the park. When you’re done eating, go for a stroll around the Eucalyptus Grove, or check out landmarks like the Padre Cross and Inspiration Point.

Fiesta de Reyes is a popular central community location that has plenty of opportunities for shopping, dining, and of course, partying. Every weekend, the stage at Fiesta de Reyes hosts live musical entertainment which is tons of fun and completely free to attend! Watch incredibly skilled folklórico dancers put on a stunning performance that draws from their cultural heritage, and listen to the mariachi band play popular Spanish songs.

While you’re enjoying the show, be sure to grab some refreshments from nearby restaurants and food stands, or check out the wares of boutique stores and pick up a souvenir or two. Stores at Fiesta de Reyes sell a variety of goods including handmade crafts, artisan chocolate, wines, kids toys, books, and novelties.

Like El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town, Presidio Hill Cemetery has a storied history that has ended in disrepair. Unlike the El Campo Sant Cemetery just down the hill in Old Town, the Presidio Hill Cemetery has not been restored. It now consists on an open field within the yellow walls of the old Presidio. There is only one grave marker at what is called the Witches Tower, a yellow one-story adobe structure located across from Junipero Serra museum and atop Presidio Hill at the south east corner of the Presidio wall.

In the mid 1800's, several hundred individuals found their final resting place in and around the chapel. However, in 1841, the chapel ceased its functions as a place of worship and gradually deteriorated. The cemetery's last documented burial occurred in 1849 when Henry Fitch, the first mayor of Old Town San Diego, was laid to rest.

However, don’t let its appearance deceive you. It is said that the Witches Tower is known as a reported area of ghost haunts. It stands near the Pattie Memorial, marking the spot where Sylvester Pattie, who arrived in San Diego on March 27, 1828, and died in prison, was believed to have been imprisoned. In the past, a guardhouse-jail was believed to have existed nearby.

Today, the tower serves as a storage facility, while its landing provides a viewing area of the scenic park. Erected sometime between 1928 and 1940, the tower is commonly referred to as "The Witches Tower" due to the presence of a large brick pentagram on the cobblestone landing on its roof.